Ted Reister, a member of the South Sound Sailing Society since 1975, died at his home on the morning of April 2nd 2001. He lost his ten month battle with Pancreatic cancer at the age of 73.
Like many of the members of the Sailing Society Ted was an adventurous soul. The water was forever drawing his interest and his thoughts, thoughts of being on the water, catching fish, sailing to a rarely visited location, and racing. Ted’s early boating was in the waters around Anacortes in the 1950s aboard a former fishing resort boat. Later in Olympia he learned to sail the El Toros on Capital Lake. In 1964 He built an 8 foot gaff rigged sailing pram later used as a dinghy for the Wind Shadow.
After a number of years of mountain climbing, hiking, river drifting, and fishing on the sound Ted made the leap to satisfy his urge to sail. In 1975 He bought a Newport 30 II and named her Wind Shadow. For Several years the Wind Shadow was to be found at nearly all of the SSSS cruises and races. Ted served as the Cruise Chairman for at least one year. While he was Cruise Chairman he even arranged a Cruise to Amsterdam Bay on Anderson Island. He always liked to go to the less frequented places.
After racing a season on Distraction, skippered by George Egge, Ted decided to try racing the Wind Shadow with his son Ken. Racing was difficult at first due to a small genoa and an inaccurate handicap. But soon a 150% genoa and a recalculated handicap allowed him to quickly become a force to contend with in C Class and later in the no flying sails class. In 1983 Ted earned his greatest racing achievement, First Over All in the Toliva Shoal Race. He came close to that again in 1995; however it did not count as the Wind Shadow started with the wrong class.
1982 found Ted ready to retire, 17 days shy of 55, and planning the grandest cruise of his life. On May 1, 1982 Ted set sail on a four and a half month cruise to Southeast Alaska with his youngest son Ken and was joined for a month by his wife Pat. This cruise brought the greatest fishing of his life, wondrous sights, great adventure, and of course many of the stories that you may have heard. They are all true of course. Later he lent his extensive chart collection to those who wanted to have their own adventure to Southeast Alaska.
Ted enjoyed sailing with family and friends. He introduced many people to the joys of racing and cruising. His smile, friendly attitude, and sharing nature will be missed by many. Ted is survived by his wife Pat, a daughter Kathy Carras, sons David and Ken Reister, and 6 grand children: Cooper and Ross Carras, Nikki, Shelby, Kent and Brandon Reister all of Olympia. The Wind Shadow continues to sail with SSSS.
Ken Reister, Wind Shadow
If I had to describe Ted in one word, that word would be “gentleman”. He was a true gentleman. SSSS is a better club because of him. He will be missed. Ed.
SSSS sent flowers to the family. They sent back the following:
Dear SSSS Members,
Ted was a member of SSSS for about 26 years. The friendships he made, and the challenging races in which he participated were a constant source of enjoyment for him.
The lovely flowers you sent to our home were sincerely appreciated. It is the most beautiful arrangement I have ever seen.
Thank you so much.
Pat Reister